Cousins,

I wanted to take a minute to update you on the progress of the Younger Family DNA Surname Project.

Interestingly enough, we have had only 3 men test, and all 3 men are unrelated.

One man descends from Halifax Co., Va and this line extends in the 1700s up into Essex County before we lose them in the mists of time (and burned records).

The second participant found his Younger ancestor living with a German Jeunger family in Ohio in the 1800s.

The third line was rumored through family oral history to be related to Cole Younger on up the family tree - in other words both Cole and this person's ancestors were both descended from a common ancestor. Unfortunately, the genealogy is incomplete and we can't verify that.

We would still love to have a genealogically confirmed (or close anyway) descendant or relative of the Younger gang Youngers. At this point, even someone who thinks they are related. If you match the other person who thinks they are related, then maybe the oral history is true.

I have a full scholarship for any Younger male descendant of Marcus Younger from Halifax Co. Va. (This does not expire.)

For anyone else who wants to test, today we received two gift certificates that will pay for part of a 25 or 37 marker male y-line test, or a female mtdna test. All expire at the end of 2005 if unused. If anyone is interested, contact me and I'll let you know hot to get the discount or answer any question about the testing you might have.

Bobbi Estes